Creator and Co-creator of such iconic fare as Spider-Man, the Mighty Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil and Ant-Man, Lee's beloved characters and storylines have transformed the entertainment landscape of the world.

Stanley Martin Lieber was born on Dec. 28, 1922, in New York City, but took the name Stan Lee later in life, Lee began a career in comics at Timely Comics in 1939.

Later he frequently collaborated with writer-artists, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and others, to catapult Marvel from a struggling publishing house to the world's number one publisher of comic books and eventually into the entertainment powerhouse that took Hollywood by storm.

"I used to think what I did was not very important," Lee told the Chicago Tribune previously. "People are building bridges and engaging in medical research, and here I was doing stories about fictional people who do extraordinary, crazy things and wear costumes. But I suppose I have come to realize that entertainment is not easily dismissed."

"Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created," said Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger, who is himself a Hollywood icon. "A superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain and to connect. The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart."

Lee is credited with bringing a sense of humanity and self-doubt into previously perfect superheroes, and for tackling tough social issues, like racism and prejudice.

"He would talk about prejudice, racism," said Robert Scott, owner the San Diego-based comic book store, Comickaze. "I mean the X-Men, here was a group of people who were only trying to do good things and only trying to help and they were constantly ostracized by being mutants."

"That was the revolution that Stan Lee did," says David Goyer to the press, screenwriter of Marvel's "Blade." "He was the first one to create, with Spider-Man, superheroes who doubted themselves, who were tormented, who were unhappy."

"The person viewing the cartoon or reading the book should have something to think about, not just look at mindless pages of running around," Lee said.

"What Stan did in the 1960s was really to go out there and evangelize, to be a P.T. Barnum or a Sol Hurok, a promoter of the fact that comics weren't just a children's medium and certainly not just a stupid children's medium," said comic book writer and executive, Paul Levitz.

A savvy businessman, Lee spearheaded Marvel from a tiny geek shop to the top of the Hollywood food chain. His characters are now responsible for the biggest box office smashes, revenues of billions worldwide, and employment for tens of thousands of around the globe.

Praise and accolades from his Hollywood peers and colleagues was unstinting.

President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige lauded Lee's unparalleled impact on the industry. "No one has had more of an impact on my career and everything we do at Marvel Studios than Stan Lee."

"Stan leaves an extraordinary legacy that will outlive us all. Our thoughts are with his daughter, his family and the millions of fans who have been forever touched by Stan's genius, charisma and heart. Excelsior!" Feige said.